711.4112Anti-War/30: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4—10:25 a.m.]
55. Department’s telegram 53, May 2, 6 p.m.53 Foreign Office informs Embassy that French Ambassador called afternoon May 2nd and officially requested Japanese Government to be represented on commission of legal experts. French Ambassador added that he understood American Government was favorable to the proposal. Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs informed French Ambassador that Japanese Government would be willing to participate in such a conference provided all six powers—that is, including the United States—were represented. This reply of Mr. Debuchi’s was approved yesterday by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Upon contents of Department’s telegram number 53 being brought to the attention of Vice Minister, the latter stated that Japanese Government would of course reconsider its position as its reply to French Ambassador had been made on understanding that the United States would participate. Mr. Debuchi expressed personal opinion that the Japanese Government would not be willing to join any such conference if the United States was not willing to participate.
Embassy understood Japanese reply to French Ambassador was cabled to Japanese Ambassador Paris May 2nd with instructions to repeat to Japanese Embassy Washington, so presume [latter] is in position to confirm.
With respect to the meeting in Europe of Foreign Secretaries mentioned in second paragraph of Department’s telegram, Mr. Debuchi stated that the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires had telegraphed from London his understanding that you had consented to participate in such a conference. Mr. Debuchi said that the Italian Chargé d’Affaires here had first mentioned to him the possibility of such a conference three days ago when Mr. Debuchi had scoffed at the idea of Baron Tanaka[’s] being absent to attend, adding that he supposed it was not meant to be taken literally; that the Foreign Minister could designate a representative in which case Japan would probably designate the Japanese Ambassador in Paris. Here again however he emphasized his personal conviction that Japan would not participate in any conference not attended by the United States adding that “you know we are not interested in Locarno,” and intimated wisely that they were far from Europe and League affairs.